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Monthly Archives: September 2012

On replay is Sleep Alone, by my one and only favourite indie boys, Two Door Cinema Club (TDCC, because you know how much we love our abbreviations here).

It’s the title track off their sophomore album Beacon, which still packs the same dance-worthy indie-pop punch.

I can’t wait till their return on our shores next 11 January 2013 eeks eeks eeks. This is how I know for sure the world will not end, it bloody can’t.

They’ll have two albums to play sick tunes from, so this concert is going to be KICK-ASS.

Here’s hoping the concert merch is gonna be a prettier ensemble, because the tshirt last year was… Let’s just say the bright red shirt I got for the sake of it reminds me of cheap National Day tees. And my late period.

Come on, paycheque, pull through now. My plan is to get the cheapest tickets on the first floor of the concert hall at Esplanade (why is it NOT at fort canning?! WEAK.) and then plough through to the front where hopefully there will be a tiny mosh happening.

I’m most interested in the lip colors though. No one does a red lip better than Marilyn right? The lipsticks are limited edition too, so if there’s anything from the collection worth having, that’ll be it. I’m eyeing Deeply Adored. Don’t think I have a burgundy red just as yet.

“Why yes, I was born with it. Here, have a blemish-free charity smirk.”

EVERYONE is in pursuit of clear skin. EVERYONE. If you’re not, you are blessed with fantastic genes and people hate you, sorry gurl. Girls like me make voodoo dolls out of you and we do nothing but touch your voodoo faces hoping that our germy hands will give you zits.

4. STICK WITH THE BASICS

There are certain ingredients that have proven themselves in clinical trials (benzoyl peroxide or glycolic or salicylic acid for acne)—use them. And give them a chance: They need at least six weeks to work. “If nothing has changed by week six, the product will never work for you,” says David Bank, a professor of dermatology at Columbia University/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Then, it’s time to see a dermatologist—prescription products or in-office treatments may offer some relief.

When it comes to acne, stick with things proven in clinical trials. DUH.

After like, I don’t know, 4? 5? years of experimenting, I’ve always gone back to benzoyl peroxide to kill zits. In between, whatever else new ‘fantastic’ product I’ve used has never worked quite as well, or worse, made my skin look even more like shit. I’m talking to you, products with green tea, pearl, lemon, honey, whathaveyous; you all suck ass.

So yes, I am sticking to my trusty benzoyl peroxide that has saved my skin one too many times. It dries the hell out of my skin and makes it flaky, but it’s not something I can’t bear.

I’ve also found that if salicylic works on you benzoyl won’t, and vice versa. Tested this theory with a couple of my girlfriends. I’m a benzoyl girl, salicylic does nothing for me.

Glycolic acid is alright, but very slow. It’s also not… potent enough for me, so I don’t bother. If you have mild congestion, then go for glycolic. I think products with glycolic tend to be a little bit more expensive too? I think.

SO. If you have zits to get rid off, look for stuff with benzoyl peroxide.

If it doesn’t work on you, hunt for products with salicylic acid. Don’t waste time.

If neither works for you, do as the article suggests, and see a dermatologist.

I use Benzac by Galderma, which I discovered when I was studying in Australia. Hada Labo Arbutin really broke me out bad and gave me craptastic skin for the better part of my stint there :( Don’t ask me why in the world I would even think of experimenting with a new product right before I flew over because… my mind was clouded by, uhhh, koalas and wallabies.

They have 10% and 5% concentrations, but I’m content with 2.5%. I started off with 10% though, because guuurrlll, this face used to need a whole lot of work.

Before I discovered Benzac I was using the Neutrogena On-the-spot treatment, which has 2.5% concentration. It works awesomely too, but once I discovered Benzac I never went back to it because compared to Benzac, Neutrogena is expensive for very little product. I love you Benzac. Benzac 2.5% is SGD$15, I think.

Another tip they extolled was to use retinoids, which I recently got really into but I’ll leave that for the next couple of posts.

A lot of people gripe on Sundays because it’s Monday tomorrow, but I never waste time on griping.

I seize the day, live in the moment, carpe diem, etc etc. Worry about tomorrow and you’ll miss out on today, I say.

So I have a routine on Sundays that always gets me geared up and ready to face Monday in the eyes and go “Imma kick your butt, Monday, just you wait.”

1. Have a Solo Spa Party

Sundays are ‘Me’ time and I pamper myself to no end. In the showers, I use my nicest-smelling shower gels, bother with body scrubs, and I’d even pop a hair mask in my tresses.

Best hair mask by the way? The Dove Nourishing Oil Hair Mask. The Dove Nourishing Oil range by the way is my absolute fave. Best body scrub I have? The Body Shop Spa Wisdom range. Ah-may-zing.

I’d then do a mud mask on my face/a peel-off egg mask to clear my congested pores. DIY peel-off egg mask is the best discovery EVER.

If I want something hydrating I grab my Laneige Water Sleeping Pack, which I LOVE. Yes, if I need a hydration boost in the day I’d use this as well. It hydrates so well, but it isn’t oily. To remove, I’d just grab a cottan pad, soak it with water and clean my face with it.

But this is rare, because my face is a perpetual oil slick. Yeah, flash photography and me, best friends for life.

I go out every day of the rest of the week, I like having one day of being indoors. Plus it’s an awesome feeling to just have a whole full day of doing NOTHING at home.

I could paint, read a book, lounge on the couch, watch back-to-back episodes of an awesome TV show, eat whatever I want, however I want, heck I don’t even have to shower if I don’t want to. And underwear is optional! Shoot was that TMI? Sorry.

Second reason, so I don’t put makeup and let my skin freaking breathe. I’m a makeup whore and as long as I’m stepping beyond my neighbourhood, I will cake my face.

If I do have to go out, I make sure it’s in the earlier part of the day. I usually go out only for the inexcusable family functions (though I’m guilty of not turning up one too many times.), or for brunch.

I love Brunch. Eggs in the morning, good artisan coffee, catch-up with the girlfriends, and wearing my favourite combo of shorts-tshirt-slippers.

3. Sleep as much as possible

I am in the bed by 9pm, 10pm max.

In bed, but not sleeping though. Instead I’ll be watching shows on my computer to sleep. It’s a terrible habit, I know, but it’s the only way I know for now to get my brain to calm down. I’m the typical insomniac with an over-imaginative and hyper headspace. I’m always envious of those who can doze off to dreamland the moment their heads hit the pillow.

FYI, at the moment I’m on Breaking Bad, which is so intensely fantastic, and hilarious Parks and Recreations. I want a relationship like Leslie Knope has with Ben Wyatt.

Also, Fridays and Saturdays are usually late-nighters, because, haaayyyy par-taaaayyy am I right. Right. Being in bed earlier on Sundays helps my body clock to revert back to office-lady-hours. There is NOTHING worse than not having enough sleep on a Monday. So yes, in bed by 10pm max, asleep around 11 to 12pm.

7 hours is optimal for me, though I could always use with 8. Any more hours than that? I would feel lethargic and like death. Yep, human body you are one fucked-up machine an enigma.

Hi, I’m a 23-year-old adult lady with a steady job, and I have a dirty little secret.

My friends think my obsession is tipping into danger territory and that I am in great denial.

My folks… well, they have no idea how far I’ve gone.

I love…

One Direction.

That’s right. Those baby-faced teen boys that my prepubescent nieces are psychotic for. You can’t imagine the self-control I had to exert on myself as they sing out loud, WMYB (What Makes You Beautful. That’s right. 1Directioners OWN abbreviations, bitch.). Boot camp level of determination, I’ll tell you that much.

It’s gone to the point where I know each defining characteristics of the boys, and you can’t ever ask me to pick a favourite.

Anyway, the boys just released the music video for ‘Live While You’re Young’ (LWYY *fist pumps 12-year-old girls*) and I have been spending the better part of my happening Sunday with it on replay.

I think LWYY is just gratuitous music, but 1D’s hook tactic has always been visual. And the music video is a mega win for me. Here’s why:

1. Bromance Galore

They grope and sandwich each other any chance they get.

Also the above printscreen is an insinuation that if the boys really do go camping, they shall sleep in the same tent. They’re at a hip camping party (I mean, Zorb balls, come on. ) with a whole bunch of girls who’d get their panties in a twist over them, and they choose a “bros-before-hoes” stance. Right. Sure. Let me crash that pillow fight and I’ll believe it. Serious proposal.